Need for transport
Transportation started as a means of carrying small loads after the invention of the wheel. Before that, people used to travel by foot to reach their destination. From there people started domesticating animals and the transportation means improved drastically over the years. Trains, boats, etc were invented and improvised over time. The earliest records of roads date back to 4000 BCE, roads were made of stone and timber. With the development of metal tools, the construction of roads became more feasible.
Roads were soon a common attribute in most towns and cities. It was used to connect major landmarks within the city such as temples, palaces, etc. Soon roads were used to connect different cities and would stretch over great distances. With technological improvements in the 17th and 18th centuries, the demand for better roads grew. By the 19th century, new paving methods were invented using asphalt, blocks, bricks and concrete. As vehicular development took place, the need for safer roads became essential which led to roads being built with asphalt and concrete.
Roads played a crucial part in connectivity as mentioned earlier. This further emphasised the infrastructure and development of a city. Extensive planning was done to determine routes which would make travel easy and quicker. As more and more people started using road transport to commute, for any purpose- work, home, travel etc., there were more vehicles on the road causing traffic and resulting in delay in reaching the destination. Due to economic strains, people sometimes have to travel to work in different districts or cities daily. This led to the development of highways and expressways. Highways were intended to accommodate high traffic volumes, faster travel and economic growth. They reduced travel time by regulating higher speed limits. Multiple lanes, facilitate smoother traffic flow. Highways also aided in increasing job opportunities in terms of construction, businesses inland around the highways and increasing property value. This acts as a catalyst for urbanisation.
Advantages
With highways, they help with the growth of businesses in and around the space. As highways do not pass by the cities and act as a bypass, the chances of selling commodities are less, Hence the instalment of shops and rest stations along the way. Due to the connectivity and vast area, the price of the land around highways also increases. This creates opportunities near the highways for the development of peri-urban cities and towns, and these cities would be aptly located for commuters who travel longer distances and use the highway daily. Another advantage is that these townships and cities are created with careful planning – in terms of roads, water, connectivities, etc., which are less congested and can accommodate larger populations. This leads to the development of other leisure activity spaces like parks and promenades within the peri-city.
Disadvantages
While all these help make transport and commuting easier and create more planned and developed communities, there are some drawbacks to highways as well. Initially, highways were used to connect distant cities where trade and commerce were more prominent and important. And with the country’s development, trade and commerce can be done in almost all parts of the country. Hence, increasing the demand for more highways and expressways. Since the previous highways have already been built with the shortcut and bypassing the cities, the need for even shorter and quicker means of highways is required. Which results in the displacement of certain communities. The older cities have to be displaced and disrupted to create a way for quicker and more advanced highways. This increases the cost of production- compensation for the communities, deconstructing the existing buildings and siding of the roads, and finally the construction of the highways themselves. This increases the carbon footprint, which contributes to climate change. The cutting of trees for clear way reduces the shade and increases the heat in the particular area and pollution.
Highways are a complex balance between benefits and drawbacks – impacting local communities and the environment. They enhance transportation efficiency, reduce travel time, facilitate access to remote areas and improve the overall development of the country. But they also disrupt nature, by deforestation, displacing animals and birds, displacing human settlements for faster and more connected highways. Increase the carbon footprint and usage of construction materials which lead to pollution. In the future, a holistic approach must be adopted to create highways to lessen the shortcomings of the development of highways by incorporating sustainable practices, and to minimise ecological damage.By doing so, humans can appreciate highways better and minimise the negative impacts.
REFERENCES :
1.Admin (2022) History of transportation – introduction: Types of transportation, BYJUS. Available at: https://byjus.com/physics/transportation-history/ (Accessed: 23 April 2024).
2.Benson, F. J. and Lay, . Maxwell Gordon (2022, August 11). road. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/road
